Lift device



Nov. 8, 1949 o. R. MQCOLLEY 2,437,150

LIFT DEVICE Filed July 6, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 0/125. 41 0 C0//\e u Nov. 8, 1949 O. R. Mcco 2,487,160

LIFT DEVICE Filed July 6, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 flfforngya Patented Nov. 8, 1949 UNITED STATES- ATENT OFFICE LIFT DEVICE Ora R. McColley, Columbus, Mont.

Application July 6, 1945, Serial No. 603,440

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to lifting devices, and more particularly to a lift device for lifting and dressing a human body, Ior lifting and handling caskets, for lifting heavy vaults and the like, and for other heavy lifting tasks as required in a funeral home.

A main object of this invention is to provide a novel and improved lifting device of simple construction and which is adapted to be employed for a wide range of lifting tasks inafuneral home or mortuary.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved lifting structure which employs hydraulic foot-actuated pump means to provide the lifting effort and which is simple and eflicient in operation.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description and claim, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a lifting device in accordance with this invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the structure of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an end elevational View of the lifting device of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a detail view showing the connection of the lift bar to the hydraulically actuated piston jack member employed in the structure of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a detail view in perspective showing a portion of the lift bar employed in the lifting device of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a schematic diagram showing the hydraulic system employed in the lifting device of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, the lifting device comprises a frame I having a rear panel 2 and end panels 3 and 4. The end panels are built up of tubular steel bars Welded together to form rectangular frame sections and are each supported on a pair of casters 5, 5. The rear panel 2 comprises a horizontal top tubular bar 6 welded at its ends to the top rear corners of end sections 3 and l and a horizontal bottom tubular bar 7 welded at its ends to the lower portions of said end sections. Inclined brace members 8, 8 are employed in rear panel 2 to provide rigidity.

Secured rigidly on each end panel adjacent the forward portion thereof is a vertical cylinder 9, each vertical cylinder having mounted therein an upwardly movable piston It. The top end of each piston It is threadedly secured to a cap member H, the cap members being welded to a longitudinally extending fiat bar 2!. Bolted to cap members H through bar 2! is a longitudinal angle bar lz supported in position with one flange vertical and the other flange horizontal, said horizontal flange being uppermost. Angle bar l2 carries a plurality of longitudinally spaced straps l3'wherein the load to be raised is supported.

Connected to the lower portion of each cylinder 9 is an oil pipe through which oil is forced by a pump l5 when it is desired to raise the pistons Hi. The oil pump I5 is actuated by a foot pedal l4 arranged at the rear portion of frame I. A supply tank l6 for the oil is provided adjacent pump it, said tank being connected to the pump by an oil admission pipe H. The outlet side of the pump is connected to the tank by a return pipe l8 having a release valve l9 positioned therein.

Control valves 20, 20 are provided in the hydraulic lines for the respective cylinders 9, 9 to manually control the admission or release of oil to and from the cylinders.

In operation, the load is secured to straps l3, valves 20, 20 are opened, and the operator steps on pedal I4. Pistons I0, l0 are thereby raised by the action of pump [5, lifting the load to a desired elevation. The load may be secured in raised position by closing valves 20, 20. The frame may then be moved on its casters to a desired location. The load may be lowered by opening valves 20, 20 and release valve l9, thereby allowing pistons Hi, It to descend and returning excess oil to tank It through pipe l8. To re-apply lifting force valve 19 is closed.

The oil pipe running longitudinally fro the pump it to the cylinders at the end frame section 3 is housed in the lower longitudinal tubular bar member I, as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

While a specific embodiment of a lifting device has been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention other than as defined by the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

In a lift device, a pair of vertical end panels including front and rear ends, a vertical rear panel rigidly connecting said rear ends of said end panels together, said rear panel being relatively longer than said end panels whereby to provide with said end panels a rectangular enclosure entirely open at the bottom and at the 3 front, a vertical hydraulic cylinder fixed to each REFERENCES CITED end pane} between .front and rear The following references are of record in the thereof, pistons in said cylinders, each piston infile of this patent, eluding an upper end disposed above said end panels, a crosshead connecting said upper ends 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS of said pistons, spaced cradle-supporting elements on said crosshead, and means for supplying i g gz ia? hydraulic fluid under pressure to both of said 2125546 1938 cylinders simultaneously whereby to elevate said 2174434 -g "Sept 1939 plsmns and cmsshead' 10 2,218,883 Jones oct. 22, 1940 ORA R. McCOLLEY. 

